Summer Vacation Ideas from Our Members

Motorcycle Road Trip in Greece
"Day two of being on the road was the beginning of the best ride I have ever experienced, and the roads I found just have to be the best in Greece! I rode south through Tripoli and on to Sparti where I stopped for lunch. The road out of Sparti going west to Kalamata was a motorcycle rider's dream. It took me through and over Mt. Taigetos and what seemed to be hundreds of hairpin turns. The scenery was unbelievable.

"From Kalamata I went south to Kardamilli, Stoupa and Trachili. Kardamilli is a small village with cobblestone narrow streets and hundreds of photo opportunities. I stopped where the sign said 'rooms' and stayed in a very modern room with a kitchenette that opened onto the Mediterranean for what was less than $30. The next morning I watched from my balcony as a small fishing boat docked and the little old lady boarded the boat to inspect what she would buy for the day's menu." -- Greece on a Harley by Becky B.

Ocean City, New Jersey: The Best Street in Town
"After many dismal days sweating it out on the west coast of Jersey, the east coast is practically paradise. And where do you go after you finally get to paradise? Where to stay after 16 years of staying in Ocean City, New Jersey?

"I'm a pretty seasoned veteran, and 2nd Street is the best in town (in my opinion). Being on the north end of the boardwalk, you get close to quiet, but still the easy access to the boardwalk. The beach is, of course, crowded as you'd expect, but it's one of the larger beaches, so there's still room for wiffle ball. Breakfast, lunch, dinner? Brown's, famous especially for its donuts, is just one street away on the boardwalk. Also the spot for water ice breaks!" -- Ocean City -- My Jersey Paradise by lyss63

Temple Tranquility in Japan"Kyoto's main attraction for tourists is the large number of temples, shrines and castles that are there. There are over 2,000 sites, and many of them are UNESCO heritage sites. The crowds can be pretty thick, though. The best bet is to arrive at places right at the opening hour, and get ahead of the bus tourists.

"I arrive at Shoren-in Temple right at 9 a.m., opening time. I think this is the secret, arrive early. I walk in, and I have the place to myself. I kneel on the tatami mat floor and contemplate the waterfall and beautiful gardens outside.

"Shoren-in might not be the most beautiful of all the temples in Kyoto, but it is only as I am alone, with no sounds but the call of the birds, the splash of the waterfall and the rustle of the wind through the bamboo, that one gets a true appreciation of the peace of mind that meditating at these temples can bring.

"Of course, by posting this on the Internet, I may have destroyed that peace for future generations of tourists." -- Two Weeks in Japan by GregW

Rocky Mountain High -- on Horseback
"My husband and I, novice horseback riders, went on our first trail ride in 2001 with the Trail Riders of the Canadian Rockies. It was such a superb experience that we have ridden with them each summer since.

"The six-day adventure includes riding four to six hours each day, staying in Indian-style teepees in 'Teepee Town,' having delicious meals, seeing incredible sights and meeting people from all over the world. My husband celebrated his 64th birthday last July by doing a snow angel in a glacier -- what an experience!" -- Horseback Adventures in the Canadian Rockies by Jean T.

Iceland: Preaching to the Choir?
"After much searching, we were finally on the road to Pingvellir. We passed the Laxnes horse farm on the way. The drive was beautiful. Iceland is a breathtaking country. We traveled over lava formation areas covered in moss and fields full of horses. Pingvellir was great. This is the site that the Icelanders chose for their parliament in 930 A.D. It is kind of a natural amphitheater made of lava rock. There was a lovely waterfall tucked in one area.

"We hiked to it and along the river. We walked around the whole area and even visited the little church. I got up on the pulpit and began preaching, 'and lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shown round about them, and they were sore afraid...' Darlene stayed in the car." -- Iceland and Greenland Adventures by Linda V.